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Microbiology and Molecular Biology Reviews, September 2001, p. 390-403, Vol. 65, No. 3
1092-2172/01/$04.00+0   DOI: 10.1128/MMBR.65.3.390-403.2001
Copyright © 2001, American Society for Microbiology. All rights reserved.

Questionable Thymic Nurse Cell

Mark Pezzano,* Michael Samms, Marcia Martinez, and Jerry Guyden

Department of Biology, City College of New York, New York, New York 10031

Since their discovery in 1980, thymic nurse cells (TNCs) have been controversial. Questions pertaining to the existence of the TNC as a "unit" cell with thymocytes completely enclosed within its cytoplasm were the focus of initial debates. Early skeptics proposed the multicellular complex to be an artifact of the procedures used to isolate TNCs from the thymus. Since that time, TNCs have been found in fish, frogs, tadpoles, chickens, sheep, pigs, rats, mice, and humans. Their evolutionary conservation throughout the animal kingdom relieved most speculations about the existence of TNCs and at the same time demonstrated their apparent importance to the thymus and T-cell development. In this review we will discuss and debate reports that describe (i) the organization or structure of TNCs, (ii) the thymocyte subset(s) found within the cytoplasm of TNCs and their uptake and release, and (iii) the function of this fascinating multicellular interaction that occurs during the process of T-cell development. Discussions about the future of the field and experimental approaches that will lead to answers to remaining questions are also presented.

* Corresponding author. Mailing address: Department of Biology, City College of New York, 138th St. at Convent Ave., New York, NY 10031. Phone: (212) 650-8559. Fax: (212) 650-7989. E-mail: mpezzano{at}sci.ceny.cuny.edu.

Microbiology and Molecular Biology Reviews, September 2001, p. 390-403, Vol. 65, No. 3
1092-2172/01/$04.00+0   DOI: 10.1128/MMBR.65.3.390-403.2001
Copyright © 2001, American Society for Microbiology. All rights reserved.


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